The Drawer of Makeup Guilt

I like to think of my blog as a kind of sharing circle where anyone can come and join us in celebrating unnecessary addictions to all things makeup and beauty.. right?

Just smile and nod so this post won't make me feel like I'm alone in this, although from instagram sightings I think I can feel pretty secure that I am well and truly not alone.

The backup/new bits drawer. The ghost that haunts all new purchases while I'm perusing the drugstore aisles, the Mecca counters and department store beauty halls. That little voice in my head that says "think of all the new makeup you have sitting at home waiting to be opened and used. You need no more!" Let's be honest though, that pesky voice generally gets the boot and I gladly hand my pennies over in exchange of something new and exciting that's been launched.

It's all about layers- ogres have layers, beauty obsessive's drawers have layers

So this post is to celebrate the new bits/backup drawers that I know a lot of us have and store (read: hoard) new beauty bits! Let me know how out of control yours is getting so I can share the guilt..

The Debate | To Prime or Not?

"To prime, or not to prime.. That is the question." - Anon

But really, should we be worried about using a primer or just not bother and skip the whole faff completely? I was asking myself this very question maybe 6 months ago before I had really tried a few primers or seen any difference when I had used one for that matter. Beauty brands seem to be bringing out more and more primers these days that are designed to combat various issues and problem points- oiliness, redness, pores, dullness, dehydration, dark spots, pigmentation, textural issues; the list goes on! There are a few brands in particular that have become quite regarded for their primers like Benefit's Porefessional and now their new release for anti-shine as well as Smashbox's wide range of primers combatting almost all of the previously mentioned issues. As well as this, more and more 'accessible' and I suppose drugstore brands are bringing out their own versions of similar products which is what prompted me to write this post. With the release of an awaited 'drugstore' product I felt slightly more well-rounded in the primer world and able to share with the blogosphere my thoughts.

All Over Face
The Hourglass Mineral Veil Primer which I think if I mention once more I'm going to annoy myself for being so boring and anyone who is reading this. I've expressed my love and adoration for this product many times so check out previous posts if you're interested.

L'Oreal Magic Blur- Available from Priceline so it is much more accessible and retails for $24.99. This product created a big hype in the YouTube land as well as all over beauty blogs. It was one of the first drugstore primers to create a wide interest and I waited and waited for it to hit our Australian shores. Months later, during a casual stroll in my local Priceline there it was on the middle shelf just at eye-line for my ease, the Magic Blur! Here to save the day and blur all my imperfections and make me look airbrushed in real life all day everyday. Safe to say I had fairly high hopes for this little tube. I've only used it a few times now and despite this being recommended as an all over face product, I think for my skin type it's better suited to just being focused on problem areas like my t-zone and the pores beside my nose. So far I haven't been overly impressed with how it seems to make my face more oily rather than having the opposite effect that I hoped for. It does fill in the pores so this can fit into two categories of this post but I might do a more detailed post in the future when I've been using it for longer.

Pores
Benefit Porefessional, like the Hourglass primer I don't think I need to say anymore on this product. It is  a cult product for a reason. It fills in the pores to create a more smooth surface and doesn't break up your makeup throughout the day, make my skin more oily nor does it highlight my pores and make them centre of attention.

Innoxa Pore Vanishing Cream A great drugstore dupe for the Benefit Porefessional and does match up pretty well to it's Benefit counterpart. It is still a silicone texture making it great for filling in pores but the texture is slightly (only ever so) to the Benefit. I bought this on recommendation from Australian YouTube gals and was intrigued and excited to try a more affordable product and see if it truly does compare. I would say it is a great alternative, I'm not sure it has the same lasting power as the Benefit but if it is more in your price range then it is a great product but I guess same with a lot of things, the original is often the better.

Eyelids
Urban Decay Primer Potion was the first eye primer I had ever used and I've been using it for probably six months consistently as in I reach for it everyday that I'm wearing makeup, whether it be only eyeliner or a full on eye for a night out. I like to know that whatever I'm putting on my lids is going to stay and not crease if I'm going to put in the time and effort to blend it all in! Plus it's just not the look I want to have my eyeshadow creasing and smudging throughout the day.

Too Faced Shadow Insurance  One of my beautiful pals bought me the Too Faced Blogger Box from Sephora while she was in the States and this was one of the products included. I haven't tried a great deal of Too Faced products, not for any particular reason, just haven't been on my radar too much so I was very excited to have minis of some of their more popular products to test out. In comparison to the Urban Decay it's extremely similar in texture and smell and for me it has the same great lasting power and helps my eyeshadow stay all day and avoid creasing.

On the 'To Try' list are the L'Oreal Lumi Magique which is more for radiating and creating that glowy, dewy skin so I'm reserving that for Winter to brighten up my skin. Also for eyes, my next purchase I think will be the Nars Smudge Proof Eyeshadow base which has been recommended online as well as to me by advisors at beauty counters.

Not so impressed- despite my mentioning them at them beginning of this post, the Smashbox Photo Finish Primers. I got a tester of the original oil-free version from Mecca Maxima and very glad I didn't purchase it because I felt it did more bad than good. My makeup definitely didn't last all day and from memory just broke up especially in my t-zone and around my nose. Not a fan and I don't think I even finished my little tester pot.

Instagram- @beautylocale

Friends' Faces | 21st Birthday

Last weekend one of my bestest pal's celebrated her 21st birthday and after much umming and ahhing I agreed to do her makeup for the evening. I was a bit hesitant to be the one to do her makeup for her party because I was worried about it not turning out exactly how she would've wanted it and then that could've been a whole palava and I would have felt terrible. However, after us doing a bit of a practice I said I'd do it but made her promise to be 100% honest; here's how it turned out, I could not tell you for the life of me what I used because I was dipping into a bit of everything. I had my MAC, Inglot and Urban Decay Naked 2 palettes on hand so definitely shadows from those. Beautiful lashes from House of Lashes and L'Oreal True Match for her base.

One of my other best gal pals also asked me to do her makeup or at least her eyes if we didn't have time and as she was wearing a white dress, she wanted a warm bronzey toned eye to compliment it. I used only the Urban Decay Naked 2 palette for her eyes and I don't know if it's the difference in skin/hair colour but I feel like they looked a lot better on her skin tone than they do on mine. Ainsley's base of choice was her tried and true Bourjois Healthy Mix and some natural lashes also from House of Lashes.

I wanted to take a makeup mess/progress shots but it ended up being a legitimate makeup mess and there just wasn't time! I in no way think I'm a makeup artist or have any special skill whatsoever I more just wanted to show off my beautiful friends' faces.

High End Worth Their Buck

I'm not one for only buying highend makeup or drugstore makeup, I much prefer to have a mix and be more well rounded in my makeup knowledge and products and plus I really don't see the point in spending at least double the amount of money on a product when there is an equivalent or an even better 'drugstore' alternative. Many products out there have affordable alternatives but the so called dupes might not match their high end competitor in standard and quality. Therefore there are a few products that I am willing to shell out the extra few pennies to get a bit better quality (in theory) and here are a few...

Chanel Mat Lumiere- I've raved about this enough on my blog but this is my everyday go-to foundation and the closest I think I've ever come to a Holy Grail base product. I've tried many drugstore and highend foundations but nothing has pleased me enough to reach for it everyday for a long period of time. My Lumiere in B20 is a perfect match for me, great medium coverage for everyday and doesn't leave my skin feeling heavy or cakey. It lasts really well on my combination skin and most of the time I don't even bother touching up or powdering especially now that it's cooler weather, my makeup isn't sliding around in the heat.

Hourglass Mineral Veil Primer- again a product I've talked your ear off about so I won't say much but if you're in Australia, have a Mecca Cosmetica counter near you, have combination skin and are looking for an all round primer; go and ask for a sample. This purchase made me wince handing over my card to pay but I haven't regretted it a day since. I use it everyday regardless of whether I'm going out or to work, it makes my make up last for hours, controls oil and has light diffusing qualities making your face look closer to flawless and even textured. Who doesn't want that?! 

MAC Eyeshadows- my 15 pan palette has one lonely spot waiting to be filled but I'm waiting to find that shade that I must have to take my eye. MAC shadows get lots of rave and review because really, the quality is that good. I have a mix of matte and shimmer shades, none of which I've ever found chalky or patchy, they're smooth to apply and the pigmentation is always there. Even their black (Carbon) is proper black not like grey/black that a lot of matte black shades can be. The brand speaks for itself really and they have a reputation for a reason. I'm no MAC devotee but ill spend the extra dollar on their eyeshadows and lipsticks because the quality is worth the price point. 

NARS blushes- Now I only have two shades in their blush range but again, like MAC these blushes get the hype for a reason. The shade range has a great variety of matte and shimmer blushes and shades to suit all skin tones. The pigmentation is phenomenal to the point where the lightest of hands is necessary to not overdo things. So in doing that these pretty little blush pans will last you a very long time which makes spending that bit extra worth it I think. The blushes blend beautifully, are super soft and buttery and have great lasting power on the skin. 

MAC lipstick- As I mentioned before there are only a few MAC products that I will pay Australian prices for and their lipsticks just make it into that category. I still don't enjoy paying the $36 but the formulas (plural because you have such a diverse range at MAC) are really worth it and of course their infamous shade range displayed on the tiered shelves gets me every time. My favourite of their formulas are the matte and creamsheen ranges- matte because they're super long lasting without being overly drying and creamsheen because they have just the right amount of moisture and sheen look to them which makes it a great formula for those everyday shades. 

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder + Blushes- the launch of the Lighting Powder Trio palette had many a makeup maven in a tither, myself included. The day these launched at Mecca I had mine put aside to make sure I wouldn't miss out and boy am I glad I did. At $60 each for the single powders, paying just over $100 for the palette seemed like an amazing deal to me! Plus one of the shades was limited edition if I'm not mistaken but I mainly bought it for Dim Light which blurs imperfections and has light diffusing technology to make everything seem beautiful and airbrushed. The beauty of makeup I tells ya! After my success with their powders, the rumours of a blush line had me equally as excited. Teasers on instagram of the shade range showed that they are quite a unique blush with colour and a more neutral tone marbled together to create a blushing beauty. From what I've seen, these have received mixed reviews but personally I'm a big fan. Coming in at $50 at Mecca Cosmetica they're a pretty similar to that of NARS and other high end brands but to be honest I was pleasantly surprised with that, I was definitely expecting a higher price point. At the moment I just have the shade Dim Infusion which is a beautiful coral but I've got my eye on Mood Exposure for the Winter time.

This is my brief roundup of highend products that I love and use if not on the daily then super regularly. There are lots more products that I've spent the extra money on and I've loved and many that I haven't loved but these bits will be in my collection for the foreseeable future.. sorry bank account. 

What's in My Makeup Bag | Travel Edition

If you follow me on Instagram (@beautylocale) then you may know that last week my Mum and I took a short trip over to Perth for the Easter long weekend. Apart from a trip to Europe last year when I had to be quite sparing and smart with my makeup choices because of weight/space issues, I think this may be one of the first times I've had to pack a makeup bag that's going to have to get me through more than an overnight. So this meant sorting through my stash and picking out the bits that I thought I'd be able to transition from day to night, multi-task with and the products that would be suitable for warmer weather.

I tried to be fairly restrained with the amount of makeup I took because it wasn't like I was going to be hitting the clubs with my Mum and would need everything for an intense smokey eye.. but I did need a few bits that I could use for more night time makeup even just for when we went out to dinner. Enough rambling, here are all the bits I chose to take with me- my favourite daily essentials + a few (or more than a few) extras to fulfil said needs! This is purely the makeup bits but I did post a photo on my Instagram page of the brushes that I took with me.

Cheapest Beauty Tools Everyone Needs

This post may seem obvious to some but these few bits are some of the cheapest but most useful things that I have on hand 24/7 and will do so in the foreseeable future.

Numero uno: Tissues! Just some refined and processed paper but something so simple is just so handy. First tip- use just one ply of a tissue (i.e. pull one tissue's sheet off) and dab it over your face once you've applied your foundation. This is a handy tip I picked up from Wayne Goss but it just picks up any excess makeup and oils which is great for ensuring your makeup is long lasting. Similarly if you find you've overdone it on the blush or bronzer, just lightly dab a tissue over your face and again it'll lift any excess makeup and there you have a quick easy fix! Putting a folded tissue under your eye if you're doing a heavy eye look will prevent excess from falling onto your face and make clean up much easier. As well as this, tidying up the edges of your eye look is as easy as lightly (keyword) dragging a tissue upwards towards your hairline.

Number two: Cotton Tips. Again for the eye area, cotton tips are your best friend for correcting any mistakes. Sometimes when I'm in a rush my mascara application can be a little hasty and therefore a bit messy so this is where cotton tips are my number one pal. Handy tip is to wait a minute or two for the mascara to dry and it'll come off much more easily than if you try to do it when it's first applied and still wet. I buy the cotton tips that are designed for makeup so they have one side with a pointed tip and the other side is flat and almost an eyeshadow brush shape. The pointed side is perfect in helping tidy up liquid liner and create a sharper line and you can even apply shadow with the other side if you're brushless.

Number three: Cotton Pads. I prefer to use the large oval ones that I pick up from Priceline, I can never seem to find them in the supermarket but these are a must have for removing makeup teamed up with my Bioderma. The larger size means you use less and can cover more of your face. The smaller more standard cotton rounds are of course perfect for removing nail polish but to be honest I've been using those polish removing tubs more recently so haven't had need for them.

Number four: Sticky Tape. Your bestest chum when it comes to an intense eye look because with its aid you can create the most crisp line at the outer edge you ever saw! Line the tape up with the outer corner of your eye, up to the tail of your eyebrow and that is generally where your eyeshadow should stop. By placing some tape on first, it makes it super easy to have a perfect edge without having to be too careful and then correcting with concealer at the end. If you're using normal tape just pop it onto the back of your (clean) hand to take some of the stickiness off otherwise it can tug at your eye when you try to take it off. Alternatively the matte tape is better because it isn't so adhesive or sticky tab notes are perfect as well.

Sorry if this was all a bit stating the obvious but I was just thinking about all these products' uses and thought, hey! I'm gonna blog about that. Hopefully it was useful in some way!

Friend's Faces | Evening Look

So my beautiful friend, Ainsley nominated herself to be the next appearance on my blog in terms of a makeup look and it just so happened that we had a 21st to go to so perfect opportunity! This was now almost two weeks ago I think but I've just been so busy at work and haven't had time to be bloggin'. It was a cooler evening so it definitely felt like Winter was approaching. Ainsley was wearing a mostly black outfit so I had free reign in terms of colour on her face. Her signature look is a simple winged eye and for the evenings she sometimes adds a little shimmer to the inside corner or all over the lid. I think doing a full glam makeup look was a bit out of her comfort zone but ah well, that's what best friends are for, right?

As it was quite a while ago, I can't remember the exact products I used and didn't get a chance to do a 'makeup mess' photo of all the products as I had to slap on my own face after hers. From what I remember for the eye base I used a mix of two cream eyeshadows, Benefit's RSVP and MUFE's #17 on the outer corner for darker definition. For eyeshadows I'm pretty sure majority was using the Sleek Makeup Storm Palette and a few random MAC shades where I fancied. Subtle contouring using MAC Harmony, a bold wing using Maybelline's gel liner, lashings of mascara and a fairly neutral shade on the lips. *As a face base I used Bourjois Healthy Mix which was Ainsley's own and a spritz of Fix + to set it all for the evening ahead!

Ainsley has her own YouTube channel which is travel based as in the past 2 years she's been a hell of a lot of places including a 6 month exchange in Bristol, England. Go check her out and SUBSCRIBE!

xx

A Few March Favourites

Can't believe we're in April already, this year seems to be speeding by which is both worrying and exciting because the end of the year has more exciting things for me to look forward to! Thought I'd share with you a few of my favourites that I've been enjoying not only throughout March but this year to date as I haven't done a 'favourites' post as such yet. I do often post my thoughts and mini reviews on my instagram (@beautylocale) if you prefer more tidbits and brief reviews/thoughts on products I've been using.

To prevent this post from being thousands of words long, I'll just give a short-ish review and try to make my thoughts succinct. Yeah good luck Millie, aka Queen of Rambling..

Alrighty first up I'll talk about the newest addition to L'Oreal's base range- Nude Magique which is a recent launch for us Aussies but I'm pretty sure was launched maybe even last year for the Northern Hemisphere. This is definitely receiving mixed reviews from what I've seen but I'm really enjoying it so far. I find it hard to get a foundation that I love, doesn't break me out/irritate my skin, is a good match and lastly doesn't make my skin extra oily. This is described as a liquid to powder formula which I've definitely found. It is a very watery consistency but when applied does turn to a more powdery finish but not cakey-powdery. I have shade #120 Pure Ivory which is the lightest shade in the range and a pretty good match for me. (For reference I'm a MAC NC 15-20). This has pretty good lasting power, doesn't break up too badly throughout the day and *touch wood* hasn't reacted with my skin.

The Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palette. *Insert heart-eyed emoji* Honestly I wish I could make that face in real life because everything would be communicated so much more easily. I was excited that they brought out a trio palette so I could get a taster for these powders as individually I think they run for around $62 and the palette came in at just over $100 from memory.. Absolutely love Dim Light for giving my skin that diffused look and evens out texture beautifully. Incandescent Light is a beautiful highlight shade for more evening type looks on the high points of the face without shining like a disco ball. Again from Hourglass is their most recent release- the Ambient Lighting Blush which I have in Dim Infusion, a beautiful coral with lighter tones marbled through it. No exaggeration I think I've worn this 99% of the days since I purchased it and I was not disappointed. Again there's a lot of mixed reviews on these I think mostly because of the huge hype that was created and so therefore I guess people have high hopes but I for one, am in love and want more. Oh dear.

Mario Basdescu Drying Lotion; I have heard so much about this product on YouTube and the like but since I found my holy grail Origins Spot Remover, I didn't think I needed it. I was wrong. I find this is really good for spots that I can feel lurking under the surface waiting to pounce whereas the Origins one I like more for spots that have already surfaced that need drying out. I like to apply the Drying Lotion to any spots or whiteheads that need aren't necessarily visible but I can feel and know will eventually come out. Anyway gross talk over, the stuff is good and very effective.

My Inglot Freedom Palette that I put together at the Bondi Junction store in Sydney at the end of last year. I wanted something that if necessary, I could throw in my bag and would have everything I need to do my makeup on the go. More and more I was finding myself having to do my makeup on the train, well at least my mascara if i had to run out the door. Now I have learnt to better manage my time but I still reach for this palette almost every day for an easy 'everyday' eye for work. The colours are all neutral, so right up my alley and I find they complement my eyes nicely. The quality is definitely comparable to that of MAC and Urban Decay and these run for around $10 each plus the palette but still well under the price point of MAC in Australia.

This past month I've really been loving lipgloss for everyday, especially at work I do a lot of talking so I find lipglosses to be a bit more hydrating and comfortable for a long day. No surprise, like every other beauty junkie I've been in love with the NYX Butter Glosses. I have a few shades, love them all and everything about them. In the past I've really not been into lipgloss much (Check out my lipstick tag, I wrote more on this) mostly because of the tacky feel and that overly glossy look it's just not for me but these have absolutely changed my mind. They feel really nice on the lips, very smooth not gritty and not tacky my lips definitely don't get stuck together when I'm wearing these. Continuing on the lipgloss chat, during Priceline's 40% off sale I picked up one of the new Maybelline ColourSensational High Shine gloss in 110- Mirrored Mauve. At first I wasn't sure about the smell but it's grown on me and now I'm just trying to figure out what it actually reminds me of.. definitely something sweet I'm thinking a soft drink or lolly but every time I wear it I'm still trying to pinpoint what it is!

I've also been really conscious of my hair looking a bit dry in recent months so I bought the L'Oreal EverCreme Deep Nourishing Masque to go with my shampoo and conditioner because I knew I loved those already and this is no different. I use this at least once a week depending on how many times I wash my hair and just leave it on for a few minutes after shampooing, rinse it out and that's it. It doesn't take 10-15 minutes like a lot of others do which is one of the reasons I love it so much. I can honestly tell a big difference in my hair, it's less frizzy and feels a lot softer.

Last of all is a perfume I've been loving which is YSL's Manifesto. I bought this for my mum last year when I was in Europe because she'd asked me to but there was no tester when I bought it so I just went on her word. Obviously I didn't open it before I gave it to her so had no idea what it smelt like but then everyday she wore it I was like I need that it smells sooo good! So, I put it on my Christmas wishlist and I was lucky enough to be given it. I just got a 30mL size becauseI had wanted to keep it in my handbag but the bottle is quite heavy and I didn't want to forget about it. I'm almost halfway through already, which considering how many perfumes I have on rotation at the moment is pretty impressive and a sure sign that I love it. It's top notes are bergamot and green notes with base notes of sambac jasmine, sensual woods and vanilla. That is probably quite useless sorry.. I just took it from the YSL website. If you're in a department store I advise you to go and give it a sniff!

A few little extras I'll throw in are some albums I've had on repeat on my ipod, in my car and on my laptop so I think I like them a little bit.. Beyonce's self titled album is amazing, I'm definitely not the first one to say it so I won't ramble on about it. Also, Pharrell's new album GIRL which I bought the other week off iTunes and I really like the whole album. It's quite different from the single 'Happy' which is the only song that's been released. There's cameos from Justin Timberlake and Alicia Keys and I've just really been enjoying it.

There are so many more but I won't keep rambling for now, I'll just reserve my thoughts for later down the track..

Regular posts on Instagram- @beautylocale

The Trend | Lip Lacquers

It seems like a new company every month is launching their version of the lip lacquer that is very on trend at the moment. If I'm not mistaken, I think it started with YSL's Rouge Pur Couture Glossy Stains and it's baby sister L'Oreal's entry into the drugstore/chemist market made the whole trend much more readily available to a wider audience. Then with Rimmel's Apocalips, it's like glossy stain mania all around!

Seeing as I have a few from different brands, I thought I would do not so much a review but an overview of what I have in my collection. My first entry into the glossy stain market was a purchase of the YSL because at the time there was such a big amount of hype in the blogoshphere and YouTube arena that I thought, hey they look interesting.. There is very little difference between these and the later released version by L'Oreal except for maybe lasting time but seeing as they're under the same company umbrella, some similarities are to be expected. With these, they look best layered so the first coat appears fairly sheer and creates the stain and one or two more coats creates a beautiful opaque glossy stain that lasts for hours as well as pretty well through eating, drinking and talking.

Rimmel's Apocalips however, are more a one swipe, opaque jobby and aren't as staining as they YSL or L'Oreal. Apocalips have received a ridiculous amount of hype so I'm sure you're aware of their existence but it is definitely well deserved. These things are very good especially for a 'drugstore' product. Each time Priceline or ASOS is having a sale these are one of the first things I gravitate towards and add to my existing shades. They're just too easy to throw in your bag and pop on during the day or throughout the evening for a beautiful, glossy lip in 2 seconds. The applicators on all of these are similar doe foot applicators which make it easy to create a nice curve on the upper lip and get into the corners of the mouth. In fact, the L'Oreal and YSL are exactly the same.

Last of all is Lush's addition with their 'Fresh Handmade Colour' that can be used all over the face so as a blusher, eyeshadow or lip colour. The two shades I have, I've only ever used as lip colours and I bought them with that intention. The launch of these products came with that fun wheel that you and a Lush assistant spin with your eyes closed and you pick colours and those colours have meanings which are meant to be applicable to you and your personality (See, this is where companies get me with gimmicky launches and interactive things like this) So naturally I bought two of the shades which I found completely applicable to me and happened to love the colours as well. These too come with a doe foot applicator and, like Rimmel are opaque within one swipe and are foolproof to apply. They last for hours and because it's Lush are fairly natural and 100% cruelty free so extra thumbs up.

YSL Rouge Pur Couture no. 16, 21

L'Oreal Lip Shine Caresse (L-R)  no. 300, 402, 101

Rimmel Apocalips (L-R) - Big Bang,  Stellar,  Nova,  Luna, Nude Eclipse

Lush Handmade Colour- Decisive, Passionate

From these swatches you can see that in terms of one swipe payoff, Rimmel probably comes out trumps but in terms of lasting power and less transfer then the other three brands- L'Oreal, YSL and Lush would get my vote in that respect.

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The Review | Chanel Mat Lumière

A Classic For A Classic

Foundation, I love the stuff but I hate the stuff. All the promises that these companies make, the tag lines that pull me in to buy them and believe that I'll look airbrushed in real life if I spend all my pretty pennies on this 'holy grail product'.. I could cry at the amount of money I've wasted on foundations, but rather I choose to ignore it and push it to a deep corner in the back of my mind.

I used to do dancing so I was using foundation from an early-ish age but only once or twice a year and my Mum would always be the one to choose it for me and match my colour (even she knew to match to the neck) so I think my first foundation that I didn't borrow from her was a Bloom cosmetics one. I loved it, I felt so grown up and sophisticated wearing my foundation (a maximum five times a year) and thought I'll love this product forever! Despite the fact that it became discontinued as a brand, I grew up and realised it wasn't actually that great for my changing skin type. From I'd say 16 years old, give or take, I started experimenting with more foundations which for the most part were just 'drugstore' so from Priceline or Target. I have tried more foundations that I could even remember and nothing I've ever loved enough to dub a HG- holy grail product. Until now.

Ooh Chanel you are so beauty-fell (see my rhyme there) but really, I could sing this to my bottle of Mat Lumière every morning if I woke up feeling strange enough. I've been using this for I think almost two months now pretty much everyday and there hasn't been a day yet when I've looked at my reflection and thought 'ew this isn't sitting well on my face or I look cakey, patchy, nothing'. As I mentioned in my 'Best of the Minis' blogpost, the lovely lady at the David Jones Chanel counter matched me to either B20 or B30 in this formula and gave me samples to try in natural lighting and to see how they both oxidised on my skin. I used both for a week or so and was going to go with B30 but decided that as I will get paler in the coming months, to go for B20 so I can just warm it up with powder, bronzer or the like. A $72 dent in my wallet and five minutes later I was the proud owner of my first Chanel foundation. As the name would suggest it leaves the skin with a matte but also luminous finish, definitely not dull or flat looking and I would say it is a medium but buildable coverage great for both day and night. I have taken a few flash photos whilst wearing this and no obvious stark white face has appeared which is a bonus. It doesn't feel thick or heavy on the skin and it's not one of those foundations that I'm itching to get home and wash off my face. I wear this to a full day at work, maybe blot once or twice throughout the day and reapply powder but I can comfortably wear this for a long day.

What they say- 'Mat Lumière, the perfect balance between softness, radiance and a matte finish. The fluid formula blends delicately into the skin. It contains silica in the form of fine porous and spherical particles to help ensure a matte complexion. Shiny areas are mattified and the radiance of the face is revealed. At the same time, coated pigments help conceal imperfections with an optical effect. They even out and light up the complexion for beautiful glowing skin. The polymers in the formula help to optimise the hold and matte finish of the foundation.' 
(I feel like this is a direct translation from French because the grammar and structure is not great but that is what the leaflet tells me!)

What I say- Over the top of the Hourglass mineral veil primer, I buff this in using my Real Techniques buffing brush and am given the finish that they describe. A evened out, matte but luminous complexion that is long lasting (they say 12 hours) and feels nice on the skin. Definitely recommend this to my fellow combination skin gals looking for a flattering matte finish to their foundation.

Quick Bits-
Cost- $72 (RRP for Australia)
Availability- Department Stores
SPF- 15
Lasting time- They say 12 hours and I would agree
Finish- Matte but luminous
Application- They recommend just using your fingers in circular movements but I prefer the Real Techniques buffing or Stippling brushes.

Follow me on Instagram- @beautylocale for regular posts of beauty, life and extras

Korres | Sage & Salicylic Acid Cleansing Gel

From a young age, my parents always drilled into me the importance of protecting and caring for your skin especially from the sun (not that I always took note) but also a good skincare routine when I entered the glorious teenage years and was immediately hit with problematic skin. I think my Mum had similar issues and problem areas when she was my age so she always emphasised the importance of taking good care of your skin and having a routine. Alas, even as a youngin I was cleansing morning and night, moisturising and dabbing tea tree oil on those pesky spots. Now that I fund my own beauty habit, I've dabbled in a range of skincare and definitely see the importance of using the right products for your skin type and also spending a bit extra to get more worthwhile and when possible, natural products. Don't get me wrong, a cheap bottle of tea tree oil will forever remain in my bathroom cupboard and supermarket buys like Cetaphil, QV and Simple products are more than sufficient for many people. When possible though, I try to buy more natural products and avoid the usual- parabens, sulfates and mineral oils as well as fragrances that can just further irritate your skin. 

This post isn't meant to be all about my skincare routine but rather a review on my most recent cleanser purchase- the Korres Sage & Salicylic Acid Regulating Gel ($25.50) although I got mine on offer for under $20. I was scrolling through the Beauty pages of ASOS and saw this, gave it a quick Google for any reviews, which seemed to be fairly positive so I thought why not give it a try? I quite like Korres products, I bought a few lip products when I was in Greece completely unaware it's in fact a Greek brand.. (duh) and more to the point I like that it has a long list of no nasties. My last cleanser was the Avene Cleanance Soapless Gel Cleanser which I bought because it was soapless which I have been told can just strip your natural oils. I had no issues with it, I quite liked it but was happy to try something new. Prior to this was the tried and true Cetaphil Oily Skin cleanser but I found it left my skin feeling a bit tight after washing. However it did a good job and removed 99% of my makeup. 

Ok, enough rambling back to Korres- when I first used it I wet my face, rubbed it all over, stopped and literally said out loud "Oh no, I don't like that"in terms of the smell but it grew on me quite quickly and now I really like it. I use this for both morning and night, although at night I remove a good deal of my make up first using Bioderma then double cleanse with this. I use either the Simple toner or Lush Tea Tree Water  and very little remnants of make up remains. It doesn't leave my skin feeling tight or dry, I just feel fresh and clean. You only need a pea size amount and it gently lathers into more than enough for your face and neck. I haven't yet fully determined if it has reduced the oiliness of my skin in general but maybe with further use. For reference, my skin is combination/oily.

What they say- ' Regulating cleansing gel for oily skin prone to imperfections. Deep, purifying cleansing that removes traces of dirt, residue and oil without leaving skin feeling dry or tight. Ideal for everyday use on face and body. 90.1% Natural content.

What I say- 'Agreed. I Definitely recommend'.

Instagram- @beautylocale

               

 

The Wedding Face

Last week one of my beautiful friends, Michelle was attending a wedding and asked me to do her face for her. Of course I was more than happy to and she was also kind enough to let me photograph before and after and now she may be making future appearances on this blog
Her dress was a coral, lilac print and she wanted a purple toned eye to complement both her dress and lovely green eyes. For a Summer wedding I thought a nice soft purple eye would be appropriate and a few quick tweaks later on could take the look into the evening.

I started with Benefit's Porefessional Primer around the nose and a bit down the T-zone and prepped her eyes using Urban Decay's Original Primer Potion. As a base I used Maybelline 24hr Eye Tattoo in Barely Branded seeing as these things last for hours and hours. For the most part of the eyes I used a L'Oreal trio in 405- Stay Ultra Violet, Tease from the Naked 2 palette through the crease, Bootycall as a brow highlight and a touch of this iridescent LA splash glitter on the inner third of the lid for an extra touch of glitz and glamour! A small cat eye using Maybelline gel liner, a few lashings of Jordana's Best Lash Extreme and finally L'Oreal infallible eyeshadow in Purple Obsession smudged into the bottom lash line.

Brows were done using Wet n Wild Brow kit, some subtle bronzing around the edges of the face with MAC Matte bronzing powder and Nars Amour blush on the cheeks for a gorgeous pink glow.

As Michelle is slightly more pale than I am, I used her own foundation which was Napoleon Perdis Advanced Mineral Makeup liquid foundation and set her whole face using the Camera Finish powder.

A spritz of Urban Decay 'Chill' setting spray and voila! She was ready.

All of the brushes used were either Real Techniques, Sigma or Bdellium. I know this is a very brief rundown but I wanted to share this anyway. Maybe in the future I'll do a more step by step but usually I just wing it and make it up as I go along!

Product Reviews | The Best of the Minis

When it comes to things that are miniature in size, I'm a complete sucker. Whether it's deluxe samples or products that come in a small size, I can't resist, they're just too cute! (An advertiser's dream right here..) I've been collecting some of the miniatures that I have either acquired or purchased with a future blogpost in mind to share my thoughts and maybe endorse a few purchases..

Let's start with Benefit's Porefessional ($53AUD) There's no denying this is a serious 'cult' product that receives glowing reviews and I was lucky enough to get this deluxe sample size as a freebie with a magazine I bought when I was in the UK. Surprisingly this size lasted me a good while seeing as you only need a small amount and a year later I purchased the full size, again whilst overseas. This product is great for filling in pores and giving you an all around smoother appearance. Not sure how much this does in terms of mattifying your t-zone though but I do enjoy using it as more of a targeted area primer.

Origin's Super Spot Remover ($19AUD) Not a sample size, just adorably small. This may seem pricey for a spot gel but man oh man is it worth spending a bit extra. This stuff is definitely my go-to when my skin is acting out, I just pop it on before I go to bed and in the morning my spots are definitely reduced in redness and size. This dries it out without making the skin around the area too dry and flakey. I think this may be my second or third bottle..

Kiehl's Ultra Face Cream (from $34AUD) and Kiehl's Ultra Light Daily UV Defense (from $38USD) Both of these deluxe samples were gift with purchase of the Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Serum as a little rejuvenating pack I think. For an oily skin gal like me, I think the Ultra Face Cream would be too heavy generally for everyday use but at one point my skin was looking quite dehydrated and flakey and this fixed it right up! Hasn't sold me enough to purchase the full size but a good product nonetheless and I scraped the mini jar dry. Daily UV Defense is still going strong and I put this on underneath my makeup when I know I'll be outdoors rather than inside at work all day. With an SPF of 50+++ it definitely has the tick of approval for Australia's hot, Summer days and I feel well and truly protected when wearing it.

Hourglass Mineral Veil Primer (from $25AUD) Hourglass, can you do no wrong?! Honestly, every product of theirs that I've tried, I've loved. It is quickly becoming one of my favourite high-end brands and this was no exception. This sample size came with my purchase of the Ambient Lighting Powder Palette and when I bought it the lovely assistant at Mecca Cosmetica slyly pointed out the free gift and told me I'd love it. Yep, she wasn't wrong. This primer is silky, radiant and beautiful and definitely gives my makeup lasting power for a long day at work and keeps my oiliness at bay as well as smoothing out my pores and general textural issues. And yes, I may have treated myself to the full size of this last week but in my defence I did have a voucher from Christmas to ease the blow to the bank account.

The luxury that is Chanel Mat Lumiere Foundation ($72AUD) This little tester is in the shade B30 which I was trialling along with B20. I have overcome my anxieties about approaching makeup counters for samples especially when I could be spending my pretty pennies on products that I end up not liking, which has happened all too often in the past! The lovely assistant at the David Jones Chanel counter helped to match me and suggested I try both B20 and B30 in natural light and see how they sat and oxidised on my skin throughout the day and wear. I thought I'd include this cute tester tube in this post purely for how adorable (and as it turned out, quite impractical) it is. Together with the Hourglass Primer, this is a winning duo and I decided to purchase the full size in shade B20 and then I can just use bronzer to warm it up when I need to.

Last but not least, Clinique Bottom Lash Mascara ($28AUD) This may seem like a gimmick and a completely unnecessary product but when you've got it, you can definitely see its necessity. I was lucky enough to pick this up at the Estee Lauder and Companies corporate store for a steal so I could justify the purchase. The minuscule wand is the perfect size for separating your bottom lashes without looking unnatural or clumpy. The formula is also non-smudging and long-wearing which is a must in order to avoid the sleepy panda look.

That's my wrap up of some recent minis that I've loved and as you've seen have influenced future purchases. These companies know how to rope you in!

Millie x

The Cult Candle | Slatkin & Co.

Candles.  They're a must. All year round.

Those three sentences could really sum up this post but I will elaborate. You may be able to tell that I'm a big fan of candles and really any other lovely aroma-making things like reed diffusers. I'm very sensitive to smells and honestly if it doesn't smell good or even pleasant; be it a bedroom, physical environment or person, I'm a little hesitant. Some people seem to only like candles in Winter but I definitely don't discriminate. I do prefer particular scents throughout the year though, so now as it's Summer here in Australia I prefer more coconutty, fresh, tropical scents whereas in the cooler months I prefer spicy, rich and warm scents to make my room feel nice and cosy. The other day my friend walked into my room and said "It literally always smells amazing in here" and that was a lovely compliment because I want my room to be a nice, inviting place where my friends can feel comfortable. This may seem a little exaggerated for some but I just really like things to smell nice, ok..

The point of this post is to express my love for Slatkin & Co. candles. The range that every YouTuber and their dog raves about in hauls and burns in the background of their videos for added 'atmosphere'. As I live in Sydney, sadly we have no Bath & Body Works where I can purchase these but I bought my first mini one in Dubai Mall on a stopover and I have been lucky enough to find some on eBay at an elevated price I'm sure. Of the few I've tried, 'Tropical Spice' is my absolute favourite which I have repurchased many times now, is described as "an exotic blend of cinnamon bark, spiced rum and Tahitian vanilla. It's amaze. It's my go-to Summer candle and it is always received well.

Slatkin & Co. candles come in various sizes and at the moment I have the largest 3-wick size of Tropical Spice and it has lasted me well over a month with regular burning. The scent is very powerful and does linger once the candle is blown out and with a suggested 40-65 hour burning time it is pretty good value for money especially if you can buy them instore in the States.  I bought a few new scents last week which have just arrived from eBay and they're Spiced Cider, Coco Lobo and of course a small back up of Tropical Spice. All smaller sizes so not sure how long they'll last but it'll be good for trialling the new scents.

What are your favourite candle/scent brands?

Millie x

Follow me on Instagram! - @beautylocale. 

Christmas Beauty Wishlist 2013

With Christmas fast approaching, I thought I would put together a few of the beauty bits that I wouldn't mind receiving this Christmas. Beauty products are great for those girls (and boys) who like me, are beauty obsessed and love to try new things especially with so many companies bringing out amazing gift sets for the holiday seasons. Sadly, as I'm in Australia we don't get access to a lot of these like the glory of all glory sets that places like Sephora and UK stores stock however that doesn't mean we are left out completely.

My new job has meant that I'm now working in the city and sometimes a girl can't resist a cheeky window shop or swatch. One place that I seem to be gravitating to more and more is Mecca Cosmetica which is located in Myer as well as a freestanding store in the Galeries Victoria. Mecca Cosmetica if you are unfamiliar stocks beloved brands such as Nars, Hourglass, Stila and many many more. Their sister store Kit Cosmetics which is conveniently located very nearby stocks Smashbox, Too Faced, Korres, Soap & Glory and many many more. Mecca and Kit in particular are stocking some amazing sets at the moment suiting low and higher end budgets which would be amazing last minute gifts in the lead up to Christmas or for the people that you just don't know what to buy them!

Family and friends have been asking me what I would like for Christmas and as this year was my 21st and I was fortunate to receive some amazing gifts, I've found it a bit difficult to think of one thing that I would really love. In saying that there is always something beauty that I have my eye on. Here is a quick run down of my best picks!

NARS Velvet Lip Matte Pencil $39 - not in any particular shade, the pinks and reds both look stunning and I would get use out of any of their shades. I sadly missed out on the recent Guy Bourdin lip pencil set which apparently sold like hot cakes so if you were lucky enough to get your hands on one, I am quite jealous.

Guerlain Terracotta Bronzing Powder $66 - this is a serious luxury product in terms of price point and I haven't been able to bring myself to spend the money on it yet (*keyword yet) but I have a feeling that once my current MAC matte bronzer hits pan, this beauty will be my next choice. Following the rave reviews of every youtuber and blogger, I've definitely been sucked in by the hype.

Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation $90- again this product is on the list due to the incredible amount of hype it received online this year. I haven't been colour matched nor tested it because every time I went to a counter they had run out of the little pots to put the tester in so this is not a definite match for my skin type but it is a certainty on the 'To Try' list.

Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Even Finish Foundation $68- this I picked up a sample in the shade Sand  when I purchased a corrector and lipgloss recently. I've used Bobbi Brown foundations when I was younger and seemed to get on with them quite well and in terms of this particular formula I took recommendation from Anna of Vivianna Does Make Up. The shade matched me really well, was a good coverage and from memory I think I only had to touch up and re-powder once throughout the day which is pretty successful for my oily/combination skin.

Lush Sea Spray $12.50- being Summer here the tousled beach look is still very much in and it seems like almost every company is bringing out their version of a sea spray or some kind of texturising spray. I've tried the Kevin Murphy Hair Resort Spray which I did enjoy so I would like to compare the two especially as they are very different in price. Also I always love Lush products for their natural ingredients.

NARS Sheer Glow Foundation $68- even though as I mentioned I have oilier skin, I've read many reviews on this foundation from girls who claim to have a similar type and they still rave about it. So I'm keen to head to the lovely girls at Mecca and get their opinion as well as colour matched.

Bobbi Brown Blush Brush $82- this amount of money for a makeup brush for just an everyday gal like me, I even question. However it is claimed to be amazing and award-winning which I believe due to its great tapered shape and production. Also, Estee from Essie Button raves about this brush and she is another lady who always sucks me in with her recommendations.

Sorry for the rambling, Christmas and new beauty bits is all very exciting for me and there are definitely more products on my mental wishlist but I will not bore you any longer. I am definitely wanting to head to a Dior counter in the next few days and check out their new products for the season, the packaging looks enough to entice me!

Millie x

Introductions

Helloooo blogosphere, 

So after much deliberation, I have decided to start myself a blog. This will be a place for me to share anything and everything when it comes to beauty and lifestyle. As a self-confessed makeup and beauty addict, I thought this to be the perfect way to share anything I think may be useful to anyone else as well as product reviews (as well as I'm sure lust/wishlists) and some lifestyle bits and bobs. 

To tell you a bit about myself, my name is Millie and I'm from Sydney in Australia. I have a passion for travel and languages and have always had a love for fashion, make up and all things creative. I'm currently studying but now that my semester is over I thought it was finally time to start this blog that I've been thinking about for months. As well as an avid YouTube watcher, I'm always trawling the many beauty blogs out there for new and exciting things. There is so much out there and so many amazing 'gurus' but I hope to share things that not everybody is aware of. Beauty is more than skin deep, it has the ability to liberate and give confidence; it is a way of expressing creativity. For the moment when I have no time to paint on paper, I choose to paint my face.  

Millie x